He was given the name Papoose by his grandmother because of his childhood resemblance to an American Indian child. Inspired by rap legends Rakim, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane, he has been well respected on the underground hip-hop circuit for a long period of time now.
In early 2006, his StreetSweepers crew linked up with Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Inkprint to co-executive produce Papoose's first official album. On August 24, 2006, his official website officially announced that he signed with Jive Records, a deal which, according to his management's official website was worth $1.5 million.
Papoose has recently become known for engaging in charity work, visiting sick children and donated to causes including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and to various Hurricane Katrina charities.
On September 19, 2007 DJ Kay Slay announced that Papoose and himself have parted ways from Jive records. "We have officially gotten our release from Jive fuckin records. It was like a fuckin year of hell... Unfortunately, we almost became victims of A&R hell." On the radio show slay was asked what was next for Papoose, and he said "You know we can't talk about that man." The future of the Papoose's debut album, The Nacirema Dream, is unknown at this time; however, Papoose and Kay Slay are rumored to own the records that were created under Jive.
Papoose is no longer affiliated with Flipmode Squad.
Flashback
Papoose Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mother Mother, mother mother,
everybody thinks were wrong.
Mother, mother. Who are they
to judge us? Mother, mother
simply cause we wear our hair long.
Mother, mother Oohhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Papoose- Verse 1
Im gonna take ya'll back on this one.
Mommy make me some oatmeal, the mailman outside
he bringin' mo' bills. Daddy driving in his raggedy mobile.
Papoose got the cooties he killed a roach ill. Mommy Toya' keep
kickin' me with those old heals. Boys stop trying to me make me out of mo' hill.
I grew up in a shack just like oniel'. Born and raised in the ghetto where it was so real.
Back in the days when K' was on co' chill. We lived on the first floor Im from down the hill.
We had to duck on the floor, they shooting off steel. They use to have shoot outs
over them dope deals. They say if he's so nice why he got no deal? I say my talent is something these little
labels won't steal. Im doing this for those rappers who out of brownsville who never went platinum.
Marvin Gaye -- Chorus
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Papoose Verse 2-
Yo momma so fat when she walk her booty claps,
need gloves to eat a tootsie roll, she so black. You actin' like your
mom's all that. She's so crosseyed that when she cries tears go down her back.
Who ever stepped on a lines, yo' mother drink wine. Who ever stepped
on the cracks, yo mother smokes crack. We told mother jokes as if we took them for granted,
drinking sugar water eating the syrup sandwich. We threw rocks at lots, buildings was abandon.
Father sinners were teaching, but we aint understand it. Pissy mattresses, we was on the black flippin'
Needed some school clothes so we went shoplifting. Triple fat goose first deal big difference.
Chasin' the girls, seven humps, eleven kisses. You slap box better than me, then I fought you.
Smacked you in yo' face, and then start screamin' " i caught you"
Marvin Gaye - Chorus
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Papoose - Verse 3
I was borned to rappers back then, I was nice kid. Had them red& black lumberjacks
like BIG. Osh kosh bGOSH and flat tops. Battled the human beatbox stuffed wax and skelly tops.
Used G's favoritest pants, tyson was the champ, started small time hustlin' tired of them foodstamps
. Back then the dreads use to have all the weak spots, niggas were scared when they use to say ' what the blood clot!'
but the hood got tired of that you hood gunshots. Niggas started to get gun budding and what not. Tomahawks, faceheads, low lives,
the ceptic cards, black spades, lil wives, GP, SSP, HBO, those are some of the new york gangs I know.
Man I'm daydreamin' off the haze I blow, I just caught a flashback i smoked too much dro.
Flashback, Flashback, Flashback.
The lyrics to Papoose feat Marvin Gaye's song Flashback are a reflection on the tough childhood that Papoose (Born Shamele Mackie) had while growing up in the ghetto. The song takes the listener back to his childhood and the struggles he experienced, from poverty to shootouts and gangs. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world where people judged each other for wearing their hair long, and where one had to fight for survival in the face of drugs, violence, and hopelessness. The chorus by Marvin Gaye adds a level of intensity to Papoose's verses, amplifying the message of injustice and despair.
In the first verse, Papoose describes a time in his childhood when he would ask his mother for oatmeal, knowing that the mailman outside was bringing bills. He also mentions his father driving a "raggedy mobile" and how they had to live in a shack in the ghetto. Papoose also raps about how he got teased by other kids and his mother's harsh treatment of him. The second verse is more focused on the struggles he faced as a teenager. He raps about poverty and how he and his peers had to come up with ways to make ends meet, even if it meant shoplifting or hustling. He also talks about the violence in his neighbourhood, gangs, and the fear that came with it.
The chorus by Marvin Gaye is the core of the song, expressing the frustration and anger that individuals in the ghetto feel about their lives. It speaks to the powerlessness that they feel, as if the world is constantly working against them.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother Mother, mother mother,
Addressing the concept of motherhood and maternal care.
everybody thinks were wrong.
The world judges and criticizes us without looking at the full picture.
Mother, mother. Who are they to judge us?
Why do people think they have the right to judge and condemn us?
Mother, mother simply cause we wear our hair long.
People often criticize and discriminate against others based solely on their appearance or looks.
Im gonna take ya'll back on this one.
Taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane or reminiscing about the good old days.
Mommy make me some oatmeal, the mailman outside he bringin' mo' bills.
Depicting the challenges of everyday life, where you have to deal with mundane tasks like preparing breakfast and paying bills.
Daddy driving in his raggedy mobile.
Portraying the reality of life where families may not have much money or wealth to own a fancy car.
Papoose got the cooties he killed a roach ill.
Sharing childhood innocence and memories of common pests like cockroaches and germs.
Marvin Gaye -- Chorus
Introducing the chorus of Marvin Gaye's song 'Make Me Wanna Holler,' wherein the artist expresses their frustrations with their life situation.
Yo momma so fat when she walk her booty claps,
Introducing humor through a common insult about someone's big size.
need gloves to eat a tootsie roll, she so black.
Continuing with the style of insults, making fun of someone's skin color and mocking it.
We threw rocks at lots, buildings was abandon.
Depicting the harsh reality of living in poor areas where buildings may be abandoned and children throw stones at them for fun.
Needed some school clothes so we went shoplifting.
Sharing the struggles of poor families who cannot afford basic necessities like school clothes and may have to resort to stealing.
Triple fat goose first deal big difference.
Mentioning a popular brand of clothing, which may have been a sign of status or prestige back then.
Niggas were scared when they use to say ' what the blood clot!'
Using slang to describe common phrases and expressions used in certain neighborhoods and how they could be intimidating to outsiders.
Man I'm daydreamin' off the haze I blow, I just caught a flashback i smoked too much dro.
Concluding the song with a reference to marijuana and how it can trigger vivid memories or flashbacks.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDY PRINZ, JAN ELMER, M. BRIGANTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MJBThePeacekeeper
I'ma drop a freestyle on this throwback. Don't care if you talk shit....
Being the person I am I never regret to
haters is talking trash about me, I bet you
walk on top of me I will never let you
you make me mad I will positively upset you
you accept me as I am then I respect you
say the wrong shit about me then I will correct you
you fine with a perfect body I still wouldn't check you
play a sport you a good teammate I'd select you
being amongst strangers is hard for me to connect to
you my best friend in danger I will protect you
you a positive memory I'll never forget you
there's no retrospective that I don't reflect to
stand by you with a contagious disease I'll infect you
most things I say in my rhymes should affect you
When Shan and KRS was clashin' for rap supremacy
embracing poetry was my 2nd dose of intimacy
there's one little thing that I will sternly express
I won't be a pawn in this rap game like playing chess
when me and Rosco team up I got nothing to lose
just like him I'm always on my P's and Q's
practical poignant poetical proficience
quality quatrains quoted with quick-wittedness
he tells me; consciousness and intellect always bring
forget haters and critics they trash almost anything
always treat women with the utmost respect
showin' your true self give people the full effect
don't be fond of the fancy and feeble gimmicks
these little gangsters and players don't bother to mimic
when you rap always give people something to think about
that's the measure of a lyricist without a doubt
@gumuru
Remember downloading this on limewire.
siiighhh
Good ol days
@FolkLaurr
Been bumpin this song since 05, definitely 1 of my top 10 fav songs of all time
@Chino239_
FolkLaurr facts. Same here, downloaded the mixtape back in ‘06
@NoHandles333
Word. This shit never get old to me.
@LEGENDERYSTATIC
Faxxxx
@finessethaprofit7325
Foreal this my fav pap song he ever wrote been bumping since Kazaa and limewire days
@Dirklewinsky1
maybe the greatest hip hop song ive ever heard....the sample the lyrics the subject matterr the way pap puts it all together....most underrated track of its time...
@thisisnow9629
I think pap is the best to ever do it but, in my opinion the best hip hop track ever recorded was Nas - I gave you power ...you should check it if you've never heard it
@FolkLaurr
True MC shit
@TANKDABOSS
I've been listening to this song since I was like 11 I'm 25 now